How to Set Grout & Adhesive for Tile
- 1). Mark the wall with a vertical line and a horizontal line using your pencil and level. The vertical line should go up the middle of the wall from top to bottom. The horizontal line should run along the base of the wall up from the floor by the height of a tile plus ¼-inch. (If they are 6-inch tiles, the line should be 6-1/4 inches up from the floor.)
- 2). Use your notched trowel to spread tile adhesive along the bottom of the wall from above the horizontal line down to the floor. Cover the wall from end to end with the adhesive. You should still be able to see the lines through the adhesive.
- 3). Set the bottom row of wall tiles in place starting at the middle of the horizontal line, with two tiles on either side of the vertical line and hanging just under the horizontal line so there is ¼-inch of space between the bottom edges of the tiles and the floor). Press the tiles into the adhesive and hold them for a few moments until they grip and stay in place. Build out toward the edges with the rest of the bottom row, putting spacers between them and cutting the tiles at the ends on a tile cutter as needed.
- 4). Set the next row above the bottom row, starting at the center line and working to the sides. Spread more adhesive as needed. Repeat, hanging each new row from the middle working outward. Cover the whole wall.
- 5). Allow the tiles to set for 10 to 12 hours. Pull out the spacers.
- 6). Spread grout over the wall from the top working your way down using a grout float to scrape it over the surface and force it into the lines between the tiles. Wipe up the excess grout with a damp sponge.
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